Fastener forming knife assembly



y 27, 1954 J. G. WRiGHT ET AL 2,684,490

FASTENER FORMING KNIFE ASSEMBLY I Original Filed Jan. 18, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN G. rvmanr CHARLES 0. Toms-Y cumnzs A. warm/v: BY sues/w: sun/w WILL/4M A. mnxweu J. vG1. WRIGHT ET AL FASTENER FORMING .KNIFE- ASSEMBLY July 27, 1954 Original Filed Jan. 18, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOHN G. WRIGHT 1 Cannes 0. TO/YEY By CHARLES A. warm/vs EUGNE SUDAN WILL/HM A. MAX WLL M r. 7

ATTORNEY y 1954 J. G. WRIGHT ET AL FASTENER FORMING KNIFE ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan.. 18, 1947 INVENTORS JOHN 0. war/cur chums: o. Tan/5r ye/4401.55 A, WATKINJ sues/vs sun/w WILLIAM A. MAXWELL LU ITI'QRNEY Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE FASTENER FORMING KNIFE ASSEMBLY Original application January 18, 1947, Serial No.

722,806. Divided and this application December 13, 1950, Serial No. 207,888

3 Claims.

This invention relates to fastener forming and inserting machines, and more especially to a nailing machine which is adapted particularly for woodworking operations, and by which fasteners are formed from a continuous length of wire or the like and inserted in material to be secured. This is a division of our copending application Serial No. 722,806, filed January 18, 1947.

In the copending application of Wright et al., Ser. No. 595,776, filed May 25, 1945, now U. S. Patent No. 2,520,521, a machine of the same general type adapted for soling shoes is disclosed. The present invention represents an improvement over the machine disclosed in the above application and incorporates modified and novel features adapting the present machine for heavy duty service in woodworking operations as described more in detail below.

An important feature of the present invention is an improved fastener forming knife assembly which provides positive means for conditioning the fasteners formed so that consistent straight driving of the fasteners is obtained. In the above copending application, a knife assembly is described in which stationary and movable blade members are adapted to cut the continuous length of wire from which the fasteners are formed diagonally to provide a driving point, and the stationary blade member is formed with an arcuate cutting edge adapted to displace the diagonal point on the fasteners formed to a position substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the fasteners. Displacement of the fastener point according to this arrangement is effected during the cutting operation, and while good results are obtained with the relatively small wire sizes characteristically used in soling shoes, difficulty is encountered in handling the larger wire sizes.

This difficulty is obviated according to the present invention by a fastener forming knife assembly in which the stationary blade member is formed with a recess adjacent its shearing edge and the movable blade member is formed with a shoulder projection adapted to cooperate with this recess and thereby positively effect displacement of the fastener points after the cutting action has been completed. The improved fastener forming knife assembly of this invention together with the other modified and novel features referred to above are illustrated in the accompanying drawing showing an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a blown-apart assembly view illustrating the arrangement of the fastener forming knife assembly;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the fastener forming knife asesmbly in assembled position;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the fastening means used in assemblingthe fastener forming knife assembly;

Figs. 4 and 5 are respective side and face views of the stationary blade member of the fastener forming knife assembly;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail on the line i6 in Fig. 5;

Figs. '7 and 8 are respective face and side views of the movable blade member of the fastener forming knife assembly;

Fig. 9 is a face view showing the assembled arrangement of the movable and stationary blades in fastener forming position, with the movable blade indicated in broken lines to allow illustration of the position of the wire from which the fasteners are formed;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the assembled movable and stationary blade members in fastener forming position;

Fig. 11 is a face view showing the assembled arrangement of the movable and stationary blades in fastener inserting position, with the movable blade indicated in broken lines to allow illustration of the position of the fastener and the wire from which the fasteners'are formed;

and

and stationary blade members in fastener inserting position.

The fastener forming knife assembly of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 256 in the drawing. Generally described, this assembly comprises a stationary blade member 2M and a matched movable blade member 202 adapted for assembly with the stationary blade member 20! for movement between fastener forming and fastener inserting positions.

The various elements of knife assembly 290 are shown in Fig. 1 in exploded relation indicating their operating association in assembled relation. The stationary blade member Zlll is composed of a holder 293 and a blade insert 2H4. Likewise, the movable blade member 202 includes a holder 2&5 and a blade insert 2116. or 203 of the stationary blade member is recessed as at 2D? to receive the blade insert 294, and holder 2535 of the movable blade member as shown at 293 to receive blade insert 286.

The knife assembly 288 is assembled for oper- Fig. 12 is a plan view of the assembled movable- Hold- 7 ation in relation to an operating head 209. The holder 203 of the stationary blade member 20! is secured directly on operating head 209, tapped holes (one of which is shown in Fig. l at 2l0) beeing provided for this purpose to receive fastening screws (not shown) extended through openings as at 2 in the operating head 2053.

Assembly of the movable blade member 202 with stationary blade member 201! for movement between fastener forming and fastener inserting positions is effected by means of a stud member 2l2. Aligned apertures 2l3 in movable blade insert 206 (see Fig. '7), 2E4 in stationary blade insert 204 (see Fig. 5), 2l5 in holder 203 of stationary blade member 20!, and 216 in operating head 209, are provided to receive stud member M2 and define a pivot axis for movable blade member 202 with respect to stationary blade member 20L Stud member 212 is formed with a head portion 2 I 7 arranged to seat on movable blade insert 206 as shown, and is fitted with a key 2i8 which is pressed in place so that the stationary and movable blade insert 204 and 283 are retained on stud member 2i2 for mounting and removal as a unit. Holder 205 of the movable blade member 202 is formed with a further aperture 2I3 to provide clearance for the head portion 2!? of stud member 2 l2 in assembled position. When knife assembly 200 is mounted, the key 2:3 on stud member 2H2 is positioned in operating head 209 (see Fig. 2), and stud member 2 I2 is secured in place by a fastening means 220 which is described more in detail below. The holder 205 of movable blade member 202 is pivotably positioned by the head portion 2|! of stud member H2, and is retained against lateral movement by a face plate 22! mounted on operating head 209 (see Fig. 5).

This method of assembly provides a secure mounting for stationary blade member 2M on operating head 209 while allowing free movement of movable blade member 202 on stud member 212 between fastener forming and fastener inserting positions. This movement of movable blade member 202 is actuated through a cam arm portion 222 of holder 225 which is disposed for shifting between a fastener forming position stop 223 and a fastener inserting position stop 224 on operating head 209.

Shifting of movable blade member 202 between stops 223 and 224 is effected by operation of a fastener inserting plunger mechanism (not shown) and a cam follower assembly 225 pivoted on operating head 209, as described in the above noted parent application Serial No. 722,806. The cam follower assembly 225, as best shown in Fig. 1, comprises an upper lever segment 226 and a lower lever segment 227 assembled on a pivot pin 228 which is carried in a bushed opening 229 in operating head 209. The upper and lower lever segments 226 and 227 are doweled in proper assembled relation by a shear pin 230, which is provided to allow the operating mech anism to give at this point in the event of jamming of knife assembly 200 and thus avoid damage to more important and expensive parts of the mechanism. The upper lever segment 226 is formed to follow the action of the plunger mechanism, and lower lever segment 22'! to follow the cam arm portion 222 on holder 225 of movable blade member 202, and thus relate these elements for operation of the knife assembly 200 in accordance with the cyclic actuation of fastener forming and fastener inserting operations as described more in detail below.

With more particular reference to the blade inserts 204 and 206 of knife assembly 200, the features of these inserts are illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive. These blade inserts have matched inner faces formed with complementary conical portions developed in relation to the stud apertures 2 i3 and 2 I 4, which as previously mentioned define the pivot axis for these members. The conical portion of stationary blade insert 204 is shown at 23! in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and the corresponding portion of movable blade insert 206 at 232 in Figs. '7 and 8. These conical portions 23! and 232 adapt the knife assembly 200 to make a diagonal out and thus form a fastener point during fastener forming operations as will appear in greater detail presently.

The blade inserts 224 and 206 are further formed so as to adapt them to receive and position wire for fastener forming and fastener inserting operations. In the stationary blade insert 204, a passageway 233 is provided in fastener forming position and a slot 234 in fastener inserting position. The passageway 233 in fastener forming position extends through a head portion 235 of stationary blade insert 204, and is of generally tubular or cylindrical form and of suitable diameter to receive wire fed for fastener forming operations. This passageway 233 opens into the conical portion 23! of stationary blade insert 204 so as to form a shearing edge 2'36, and adjacent the shearing edge 236 a recess is formed as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 at 237. The slot 234 in fastener inserting position is disposed to relieve the conical portion 23| sufiiciently to provide clearance for operation of the fastener inserting plunger mechanism.

The conical portion 232 of movable blade insert 20B is also relieved by a slot 238 (see Figs. '7 and 8) which extends entirely across the inner face of movable blade insert 206 and is oriented in relation to slot 234 in stationary blade insert 204' to complete a passageway for the plunger mechanism 500 in fastener inserting position. Similarly, the passageway 233 of stationary blade member 204 and slot 238 in movable blade insert 206 are positioned for alignment in fastener forming position so that wire for forming fasteners may be fed into the assembled blade members (compare Fig. 9).

The manner in which slot 238 extends through the conical portion 232 of movable blade memher 200 provides a complementary shearing edge 239 for fastener forming action with the shearing edge 236 of stationary blade insert 204. As these shearing edges 236 and 239 are located at the respective conical portions formed on the inner faces of blade inserts 204 and 205, the wire fed for forming fasteners is cut diagonally to form a fastener point as noted above.

Spaced from the shearing edge 239 of movable blade insert 206 is a shoulder projection 240 which is adapted to cooperate with the recess 237 formed adjacent the shearing edge 236 on stationary blade insert 204 to effect displacement of the point on fasteners formed to a position substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the fasteners and thus condition the fasteners for consistent straight driving as previously mentioned. The spacing of shoulder 240 on movable blade insert 206 is such that in fastener inserting position it is shifted to press into recess 23? the leading end of the wire fed for forming fasteners, which remains after fastener forming action of the shearing edges 235 and 239, and thereby displace the point on fasteners formed as described above (compare Fig. 11). For this purpose the recess 2-3? is formed with a concavity corresponding to the displacement desired, and as the leading end of the wire remaining after fastener forming action will have a tapered point as a result of having been cut diagonally, this point may be positively shaped in conformance with the concavity of recess 23'! by the action of shoulder 248.

The operation of blade inserts 254 and 236 in the manner described above is further illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive. In Fig. 9, the disposition of the assembled blade inserts in fastener forming position is shown, the movable blade insert 206 being indicated in dotted lines to allow illustration of the position of wire fed for forming fasteners. As mentioned above, the passageway 233 in stationary blade insert 2M and slot 238 in movable blade insert 28% are aligned in fastener forming position, and wire 24! is represented in Fig. 9 fed into the passageway thus formed for a fastener formingoperation. With the wire ZLH positioned in this manner, shifting of the movable blade insert 205 to fastener inserting position will result in cutting of wire 24! by the complementary shearing edges 236 and 239 to form a fastener 2&2 which will be transferred to fastener inserting position in the slot 238 of movable blade insert 2% as indicated in Fig. 11. Also, with the shifting of the movable blade insert 286 to fastener inserting position, the shoulder projection 24s will be moved as previously mentioned to press the leading end 243 of wire 24! remaining after the fastener forming action into the recess 23"? formed in stationary blade insert 264 and thus condition the driving point for the next fastener to be formed. Succeeding fastener forming and fastener inserting operations are effected by repeated shifting of the movable blade insert 2% between fastener forming and fastener inserting positions as is described further below.

Repeated shifting of the movable blade insert 2% in this manner requires an assembly means for the blade inserts which will resist the turning movement induced by this shifting and which will also remain secure under the repeated shock of the fastener forming operations. If the assembly of blade inserts 2% and 2% is not properly provided for in these respects, it is not possible to maintain the adjustment between the blade inserts necessary for satisfactory fastener forming action. The shock of the fastener forming operation is particularly troublesome in this connection because it imposes a tension load on stud member 2H2 used for assembling the blade inserts 204 and 286. And this tension load is suddenly applied and rapidly repeated during operation of the machine. Under these conditions a conventional type of fastening nut would back off so that the blade inserts would be loosened beyond permissible limits.

According to the present invention this result is avoided by securing the stud member 2 It with a special type of fastening means 225}. This fastening means 226i comprises a nut portion 2% adapted for association with the stud member 212 as illustrated in Fig. 1, and a resilient shank portion 255 extending from the nut portion 244 (compare Figs. 1 and 3). The shank portion 245 lief according to a spiral pattern. This arrangement provides a spring-like cushion between the nut portion 244 of fastening means 22% and operating head 299 which absorbs the tension shock on stud member 2 l2 resulting from fastener forming action so that shifting of nut portion 24s on stud member H2 is avoided.

An important feature of this fastening means 220 is that it is particularly well adapted for securing the blade inserts 2M and 206 in proper operating adjustment. Because movable blade insert .206 must be free for shifting between fastener forming and fastener inserting positions, the blade inserts cannot be adjusted too tightly. In actual practice, the fastening means 22!] is adjusted to a tightness which just allows the movable blade insert 206 to still be shifted by hand. This degree of tightness would not be sufficient for effective use of a lock washer, for example. Fastening means 220, however, may be tightened to effect this adjustment nicely, and will still remain secure under the tension shock imposed on stud member 2 l2.

We claim:

1. A fastener forming knife assembly adapted for forming a plurality of fasteners from a continuous length of wire comprising a stationary blade member and a matched movable blade member having complementary fastener forming shearing edges disposed diagonally of the longitudinal axis of said wire to out said wire diagonally to form a fastener point, said movable blade member being adapted for assembly with said stationary blade member for movement between fastener forming and fastener inserting positions, means adapting said blade members to receive and position wire in relation to said shearing edges and to transfer fasteners formed to fastener inserting position, said means comprising a support for the tip of said point, a recess formed adjacent said support and extending rearwardly beyond the shearing edge of said stationary blade member, and a shoulder on said movable blade member positioned so that upon movement of said blade member to fastener inserting position the diagonally cut leading end of the wire rearwardly of said tip remaining after fastener forming action of said shearing edges is bent into said recess by said shoulder and the tip of the point formed at said leading wire end by said knife assembly is thereby displaced to a position substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the wire and of the next fastener formed therefrom, the length of said support and recess being adapted to displace said tip permanently.

2. In a fastener forming and inserting machine adapted for forming a plurality of fasteners from a continuous length of wire, the combination with an operating mechanism incorporating means for cyclic actuation of fastener forming and fastener inserting operations, of a fastener forming means comprising a stationary blade member and a matched movable blade member, said movable blade member being adapted for assembly with said stationary blade member for movement between fastener forming and fastener inserting positions, a shearing edge formed on said stationary blade member in fastener forming position, a slot in said movable blade member formed with a complementary shearing edge for fastener forming action with the shearing edge of said stationary blade member, said slot being adapted to receive and transfer fasteners formed to fastener inserting position and said shearing edges being disposed diagonally of the longitudinal axis of said wire to out said wire diagonally to form a fastener point, a support for the tip of said point, a recess formed adjacent said support and extending rearwardly beyond the shearing edge of said stationary blade member, and a shoulder on said movable blade member positioned so that upon movement of said blade member to fastener inserting position the leading end of the wire rearwardly of said tip remaining after fastener forming action of said shearing edges is bent into said recess by said shoulder and the tip of the point formed at said leading wire end by said forming means is thereby displaced to a position substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the Wire and of the next fastener formed therefrom, the length of said support and recess being adapted to displace said tip permanently.

3. In a fastener forming and inserting machine adapted for forming a plurality of fasteners from a continuous length of wire, a fastener forming means as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that said stationary blade member and matched movable blade member are assembled on a stud member, and a fastening means is associated with said stud member for securing said blade members in assembled relation, the said fastening means comprising a nut portion for engaging said stud member and a shank portion extending from said nut portion and formed to surround said stud member in spaced relation and provide a continuous bearing surface for said fastening means, the intermediate body of said shank portion being relieved according to a spiral pattern to render it resilient.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,141 Aiouelo July 11. 1939 376,114 Smith Jan. 10, 1888 598,890 Bailey Feb. 15, 1898 1,581,559 Williams Apr. 20, 1925 2,240,429 Watkins Apr. 29, 1941 2,315,382 Ajouelo Mar. 30, 1943 2,520,521 Wright et a1 Aug. 29, 1950 

